Sidearm circulating water heater



Jan. 2l, 1947. H. c. REED sInEARM CIRCULATING WATER HEATER Filed March2, 1944` 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 21, 1947. H. c. REED SIDEARM CIRGULATINGWATER HEATER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2, 1944 Jan. 2l, 1947. H. c.REED SIDEARM CIRCULATING WATER HEATER 4 sheets-sheet 5 Filed March 2,1944 Jan. 21, 1947. H] C, REED l2,414,557

SIDEARM CIRCULATING WATER HEATER Filed March v2, 1944 4 sheets-sheet 4sa 2@ .will z@ Patentecl Jan. 21, 1947 SKBEARM CIRCULATING WATER HEATERHoward S. Reed, Dunkirk, Sears, Roebuck and Co.,

poration of New York Application March 2, 1944, Serial No. 524,726

16 Claims. (C1. 122-223) This invention relates to circulating waterheat-4 ers, widely known as side arm water heaters.

Objects of my invention are: to provide a circulating water heater suchas those for domestic use in which the casing serves as a part of theheat exchange unit; to provide a heater of this character having acasing with a lighter door which may be located selectively in dii'erentpositions for convenience as different installations may require; toprovide a heater of this type constructed essentially from modifiedconventional steam or hot water radiator sections; to provide a heaterof this type having lateral extensions of the tubular formation of eachsection, serving as iins and as tailles and arranged to increase theheat transfer from the flames and gases of combustion and to minimizethe loss of heat to the cover parts of the casing; to provide a novelburner mounting; and, among other things, to provide a lighter doorbiased to closed position and automatically opening in case of anexplosion to thereby preclude or at least minimize damage.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as thedescription proceeds.

The invention will be better understood upon reference to the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a side arm eirculating water heaterconstructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a. fragmentary elevational viev/ of the lower part of the samewith a casing panel renioved, taken as indicated by the lin-esZ-Z ofFig. l. Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the water inlet and outlet sideof the heater.

l is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a full height elevational view, partly in section, similar toFig. 2 but including a portion of the lighter door panel.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 6 5 in Figs. 5and '1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken as indicated by the line 'l--l in Figs.3 and 5.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are plan sectional views taken as indicated by thelines 8-8, 9* and Iii-lil in Fig. 6. l

Fig. 11'is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated bythe line il-li in Fig. 3. Y

.Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I have shown generallyat 2e a side arm circulating water heater constructed in accordance withmy invention. It may be made of any N. Y., assigner to t Chicago, Ill.,a corsuitable materials, such, for example, as cast iron. In thedevelopment of this heater I have made use of conventional steam orhotwater radiator sections and have modiiied them so that, thus modified,they serve as a side arm water heater. The modications together withcertain other details will now be described.

The conventional side arm Water heater is provided with a heat exchangeunit surrounded by a casing which forms no part of the heat exchangemeans. In accordance with my invention, the casing is incorporated inthe heat exchange unit and thus I utilize heat which heretofore waslost. To this end the device comprises casing sections 22 and 23 havingtubular formations 24 and 25, respectively, the spaces between the tubesbeing, however, closed as shown at 26. The casing also includes a fluecover top or crown 2l and vertical panels 28 and 2S.Y Thetubularformation of each casing section is `preferably marginally insetfrom the longitudinal edges 32, top edge 34 and bottom edge 36, thelongitudinal and bottom edges being preferably reinforced as shown at 38and additional reinforcement being provided at 4B between the bottom ofthe section andthe lower part of the tubular formation. One of thesesections has the usual water inlet and outlet openings 42 and 44 at itsouter side, and the other section is completely closed at its outerside. Except for these differences, these two casing sections areidentical and may be made from the same mold, the mold being providedwith cores when the section having the openings 42 and 44 therein is tobe cast.

Each of the casing sections 22 and 23 of the heat exchange unit has topand bottom openings 45 and 48 in line with the openings 42 and 44,respectively, and may be joined together or with one or more interveningheat exchange sections as by push nipples 52. In the illustratedembodiment of the invention, a single intervening heat exchange sectionappears. The intervening section 5i! has a tubular formation 54 likethose of the casing sections and suitably spaced therefrom whenassembled therewith.

The inner side of each of the casing .sections 22 and 23 is providedwith plate baffles 5S extending substantially the full width thereof.The free longitudinal edges :Bil of the baliles 56 are'substantiallyspaced from the intervening tubular formation 54. Alternating with anddisposed adjacent the end portions of the plate balles are relativelyshort baliles such as lugs 52.

The intervening section 50 has pairs of relatively short baliies such aslugs 66, each preferably of generally dovetail formation and coplanarwith the respective plate baffles 56 on the casing sections 22 and 23.The space 61 between the Y the plate bailles 56 on the casing sectionsare arranged to be coplanar with the lug bailies 66 on the intermediatesection 50. Itv will be noted that the plate baffles are staggered onthe mutually facing portions of the sections to cause the gases adjacentthe tubular formations to have sinuous flow upward to thereby promotemaximum heat transfer from the gases to the tubular formations. Thepassage area throughout the entire rise is relatively large in view ofthe fact that the lug baflles of each section cooperating with the platebaiiles on the adjacent section are relatively short and the verticalportions of the tubular part 54 of the intermediate section 50 areopenly spaced apart as shown at 61a. 1

The vertical spacing between the baffles is progressively reduced upwardto the lug bailles 62 disposed in proximity to the upper part of theheat exchange unit, and from those ballies upward the baille spacing isrelatively increased, No plate bailleis provided on the intermediatesection 50 in cooperation with the uppermost lug baflies 62 on thecasing sections 22 and 23. Instead, a baflle 12 similar to the platebaffles 53 referred to above is provided, extending from opposite sidesof the upper water passage hub 13 on the intermediate section. Somewhatabove the baille 12, coplanarplate baffles 14 extend from opposite sidesof the upper water passage hubs 15on the respective casing sections.

'The respective end edges of all of the baffles are preferablysubstantially coplanar for disposition adjacent the respective coverpanels 28 and 29 (Figs. 8 and 10) and the various baiiles in each planeare quite close together, so as to substantially block rising movementof the gases adjacent the cover panels and thus minimize scrubbingaction of the gases on and consequently heat transfer therefrom to thecover panels. Moreover, because of this construction pockets are formedadjacent said panels, at the under sides of said bailles, causing thegases in such pockets to substantially stagnate and function asinsulating media further reducing heat loss to the panels. Y Y

The inclination of the mutually facing edges 16 of each pair of lugbaflies augments the area of rising flow yof the gases and minimizesturbulence.

The cover panels 28 and 29 may be cast or otherwise provided with means(not shown) for retaining insulating material B0, such as asbestossheeting. The insulation may be disposed between elongated ribs 84 c aston each cover panel, saidV ribs having a pair of eyes 86 at the upperends thereof and another pair of eyes 88 near the bottoms thereof. Theribs 84 are adapted to lie between and engage 'the inner surfaces 89 ofthe casing sections and, when the cover panel is in assembly therewith,the eyes 88 are in register with openings 90 formed in the upper ends ofhas an opening the casing sections and also in register with eyes 94formed on the top 21. The parts may be assembled by registering the eyesand holes referred to and slipping pins or screws therethroughl Theother set of eyes 88 of each panel is adapted to register with holesformed in bosses 9E on the associated flanges 38 of the casing sections,and the parts may be secured together by means of pins or screws 98.

The cover panels differ only in that one (28) is imperforate and theother (29) has a door openlng lil which is preferably of key-hole form,with a lower narrow portion |82 and an upper wide portion |04. Thisopening affords access to the burner for lighting, as will appear. n

Associated with the cover panel 29 is a door |06 of generally T shape,with a narrow part |08 adapted to cover the narrow portion |02 of theopening from the outside and with a wide part ile adapted to cover thewide portion |04 of the opening from the inside. The wide portion of thedoor is offset transversely from the narrow portion thereof and, on theinner side, is provided with eyes |12 adapted to register with thepin-receiving eyes 8B of the associated cover panel 29 and the openingsin the bosses 96 of the associated casing sections 22 and 23. One of thepins or screws 98 extending through the three parts just mentioned xedlysecures the panel 29 to the casing mounts the door relative thereto.'Ihe door may be inserted into position from the inner side of the panelby passing the narrow part of the door outward through the wide portion`of the opening until the respective screw holes are in register. Thedoor may be provided with a suitable handle I l.

The four screws referred to above are the only fastening means necessaryto completely assemble the heating unit with the remainder of thecasing. The device is so compact that less shipping space is occupied ifit is completely assembled than if knocked down.

When it is received by the customer, he may nnd that the particularinstallation available to him requires the lighter door to be located onthe side opposite to that in which it is located when he'received thedevice. In such event it would consume but a minute or two tointerchange the cover panels and thus locate the lighter door in aconvenient position. f

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the general form of thedevice in cross section is rectangular, and accordingly I have designeda burner |23 of corresponding form. The burner |2l in the bottom thereofto receive a fuel mixing throat or tube |22 which will project below thecasing. The burner ports |23 are designed to furnish flames directlyunder the bottoms of the tubular formations. The ports are arrangedmarginally in the form of a hollow rectangle, opposite sides |24 ofwhich are disposed substantially under the inner bottom portions |25 ofthe tubular formations 24 and 25 and the water inlet hubs |26 of thecasing sections 22 and 23. Within the hollow rectangle, the ports are ina generally cruciform -arrangement as indicated at |21 so as to underliethe similarly shaped bottom 28 of the tubular formation 54 and the waterinlet passage hubs |29 on the intermediate section 50. The central area|30 of the cross is irnperforate in order to serve as a baiile for theVgas rising from the mixing tube |22 so that the same sections and alsopivotally` Askilled inthe art,

:may hersnread general-ly uniformly .to the fvarions 'rp OliS.

For snpportinethehurner, there are east at the inner :side of t e'bottom .of eachleasing sect-ion 22, f2.3, ,pairs of spaced `.upper andlower lugs 1.3i between which projections `L32 on the 4sides of lthe`burner .are :adapted :to be .disposed This .is readilyaecomplishedwhenione .of-the cover panels `2li, 2.9 is .off "by simplysliding the rproietionsin place. The .ends ist of-:thepurneraIZ-ll.havefproiections .i3d which ,en-ease lues 1:36 :the .innerfaces of :the cover panels, AWhelelev to center the burner rela-tive totheheat exchange unit. .By :providing lues 'on the cover panels aswellas onthe burner, hreakaeesuch as would be likely to occur if relativelylong lue-s `were employed n the burner alone or on the cover panels.alone is avoided.

It will be noticed -that when it is desired to :lig-ht the burner it is-anveasy-matter for the fattendant to grasp the handle H6 and raise thedoor` If `against the action of gravity and then insert -a match throughthe r.dOQrcpening IDU to .the fburner, and that :the door, when 'leftalone, will `lie -by gravityin closedaposition. In the event -of anexplosion, the door `will yield `readily to the increased pressure andallow the compressed gases of combustion to escape readily, thusminimizing or obviating damage to the parts of the device.

Various modications cominglwithin the spirit of my invention may suggestthemselves `to those and hence I do not` wish to be limited -to .the.specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent `indicatedin the appended claims, which Aare to be interpreted as broadly as the`state of the art will permit.

I claim:

1. A side arm circulating water heater com.- prising a heat exchangeunit, a casing therefor .including alremovablepanel,A a burner, andinter-` engaging means on gsaidcasingand burner yena,- bling saidburnerto be'supported in operative position when said panel is removed, and.to be slipped out lof and `into said positionin the ab-VsenceofsaidPaHeI, and means on `said panel operative, when Vsaid panelis restored to the remainder of the casing, to pQStively retain .saidburner in `supported position.

2. A -side w.arm circulating water heater, comprising la heat exchangeunit, a 'casing therefor having four vertical walls, ua fluecrownlembracing the upper ends of said wallsvnarld a fastening disposedat the inner face of each of two opposite walls vof said casing andextending .widthwise thereof yand passing throughmarginal portions ofsaid opposite walls, the other two walls and said Vcrown, whereby thefourwalls and crown are-held in assembly by two yfastenings disposedsubstantially out of the path ofrisinggases.

3. A side arm circulating water heater `comprising afheat exchange unit,a casing therefor, a burner, means on said casing for supporting saidburner in cooperative relation to the heat exchange unit, said casingincluding a plurality of separable panels, one of which has a burnerlighter opening, and means interchangeably securing said panels inassembly with the remainder 'of the casing, whereby said panels may beinterchangeably positioned to locate said opening at the most convenientany given installation.

4. A side arm circulating water heater comprising a heat exchange unit,a casing therefor, a burner, means on said casing for supporting saidburner in cooperative relation to said heat exposition for the userinbattles, said bellies lhaving inlet and `outlet .els connected withysaid and forming therewith .change :unit :said easing yincluding aremovable 5. A side arm `circulating water heater com- Y .prising acasing including spacedheat exchange sections, `a .heat exchange sectionbetween said casing heat exchange sections, main Abaiiles on andextending substantially the `full. widths of the mutually facingportions of said sections, the

"baffles on `each portion alternating with those y,on

the mutually facing portions, and auxiliary baffles on each of saidportions alternating with and Vdisposed only adjacent the ends of. saidmain being arranged to stagnate gases of combustion :entering the spacestherebe tween `at the ends` of said main baffles, whereby to minimizeheat transfer -from the remaining gases to the remaining walls of saidcasing.

6. ,A `side arm circulating water heater comprising a'heat exchange unitincluding two opposite one-piece heat exchange sections, each sectionhaving a Vformation .adapted to .contain water, means `establishingcommunication between sa-id formations, one of said formations openingsfor connection with'eJ Awater tank,two `additional one-piece panheatexchange sections an Ienclosure extending below and above saidformations, said enclosure being open `at the bottom to accommodate asource of heat and open at the top to provide a flue,

7. A side arm `circulating water heater comprising a heat exchange unitincluding two oppfosite one-piece heat exchange sections, each section,having a formation adapted to `contain water, means establishingcommunication between said formations; oneof said formations havinginlet and outlet openings for connection with a water tankand twoadditional one-piece panels connected 4with said heat exchange-secitions .and forming with said sections an enclosure extending below andabove said formations,

said enclosure -being open at the bottom to accommodate -a source ofheat and open at the top t0 `provide a flue, saidcommunication-establish- :ing means comprising a heat exchange formationadaptedto contain-water, the last-mentioned formation ,being disposedwithin said enclosure,

8. A side arm circulating water heater corn- `prising a heat exchangeunit including two op- Vposite-'onor-piece heat exchange sections, eachsection having a formation adapted to contain water, means establishingcommunication be- .tween said'formations, one of said formations 'havingrinlet and `outlet openings for `connection i -yvith a watertank, twoadditional one-piece pan- 4els connected with `and Aforming 4,therewithan enclosure extending said `heat exchange `sections below and abovesaid formations, said enclosure being o-pen at the bottom to accommodatea source of heat and open at the top to provide a flue, a nuid fuelburner, and cooperating means on said burner and on said enclosure belowsaid formations, for supporting said burner.

9. A side arm circulating water heater comn prising a heat exchangeunit, a casing therefor adapted to accommodate a burner in cooperativerelation to said heat exchange unit, said casing including a panelhaving a burner lighter opening, a door for said opening, a means forfastening said panel to the remainder of the casing, said l 7 fasteningmeans comprising a pin serving as a pivot for said door. Y

10. A side arm circulating .water heater'comprising a -casing includingspaced heat exchange sections having heat exchange tubular formations, aheat exchange tubular formation between said casing heat exchangesections, each of said formations comprising a plurality of horizontallyspaced tubular elements, the spaces between said elements on said casingsections being closed, the spaces between said elements on theintermediate formation being open, main bailies on and extendingsubstantially the full width of the mutually facing portions of saidsections and intermediate formation, the baffles on each portionalternating with those o-n the mutually facing portion, and auxiliarybaffles on each of said portions alternating with and disposed onlyadjacent the ends of said main bailies, said baflies being arranged toYstagnate gases of combustion entering the spaces therebetween at theends of said main baffles, whereby to minimize heat transfer from theremaining gases towalls of said casing other than said sections.

11, A sidev arm circulating 'water heater comprising a casing includingspaced heat exchange sections having heat exchange tubular formations,an intermediate heat exchange formation, and meanscooperating with saidcasing sections for substantially enclosing said intermediate formation,each of said sections having a tubular formation, means establishingcommunication between all of said formations, each of said formationscomprising a plurality of tubes, the spaces between said tubes of eachcasing sec'- tion formation being closed, the spaces between said tubes4of the intermediate formation being open.

12. A side arm circulating water heater comprising a heat exchange unitincluding heat exchange sections, each having a vertically extending-formation adapted to contain water, means establishing communicationbetween said formations, one of said formations having inlet and outletopenings for connection with a water tank, means connected with saidsections and forming therewith anv enclosure open at the bottom toaccommodate a source of heat and open at the top to provide a flue,means for causing rising gases to scrub said formations, and means forsubstantially stagnating the gases adjacent the portions of saidenclosurebetween said sections.

13. A side arm circulating water heater comprising a heat exchange unitincluding heat exchange sections, each having a vertically extendingformation adapted tov contain water, means establishing communicationbetween said formations, one of said formations having inlet `and outletopenings for connection witha water tank, means connected -withV saidsections and forming therewith an enclosure open at the bot,-

sure, said baffles in beingY formed to provide tom to accommodate asource of heat and open at the top to provide a flue, and a vertical'series of bales'on each formation within said enclosure, said bafliesin each series being progressively closer together from the bottoms to alevel adjacent the tops of said formations. 14. A side arm circulatingwater heater comprising a heat exchange unit including heat exchangesections, each having a vertically extendingA formation adapted tocontain water, means establishing communication between said formations,one of said formations having inlet and outlet openings for connectionwith a water tank, means connected with said sections and formingtherewith an enclosure open at tliebottom to accommodate a source ofheat and open at the top to provide a flue, and a vertical series ofbailies on each formation within said enclosure, said baffles in eachseries being progressively closer together from the bottoms to a leveladjacent the tops of said formations and being spaced farther apart fromsaid level upward. 15. A side arm circulating water heater` comprising aheat exchange unit including heat exchange sections, each section havinga vertically extending formation adapted to contain water, meansestablishing communication between said formations, one of saidformations having inlet and outlet openings for connection with a watertank, means connected with said sections and forming therewith anenclosure open at the bottom'to accommodate a source of heat and open atthe top to provide a nue, and a vertical series of baffles on each ofthe mutually facing portions of said formations within said enclosure,said baflles in each series alternating with those in the mutuallyfacing series and being progressively closer together from the bottomsto a level 'adjacentY the tops of said formations.

' 16. A side arm circulating water heater comprising a heat'exchangeunit including heat exchangevsections, each section having a verticallyextending formation adapted to contain water,

`means establishing communication between said formations, one of said*formations having inlet and outlet openings for connection with a watertank, 'means connected with said sections and forming therewith anenclosure open at the bottom to accommodate a source of heat and open atthe top to provide a flue, and a vertical series of bafes on eachformation within said encloeach series being progressively closertogether from the bottoms to a level adjacent .the tops of saidformations, said'bailies a substantial pathv for they flow of the risinggases in Contact with said formations and being formed adjacent theremainder of said enclosure to provide insulating pockets in whichportions of the rising gases are adapted to stagnate. v

, HOWARD C. REED.

